Meta Says ‘From the River to the Sea’ is Not ‘Hate Speech’
Meta’s Oversight Board found that the phrase, “From the River to the Sea,” is not considered hate speech.
The decision is related to three separate cases on Facebook where the phrase was reported for violating Facebook’s hate speech policies. The social media platform did not remove the posts.
“Specifically, the three pieces of content contain contextual signs of solidarity with Palestinians – but no language calling for violence or exclusion. They also do not glorify or even refer to Hamas, an organization designated as dangerous by Meta,” the ruling says.
“The Board finds there is no indication that the comment or the two posts broke Meta’s Hate Speech rules because they do not attack Jewish or Israeli people with calls for violence or exclusion, nor do they attack a concept or institution associated with a protected characteristic that could lead to imminent violence,” it explains.
According to the decision, the phrase lacks a “single meaning.” Because of this, a “blanket ban on content that includes the phrase, a default rule towards removal of such content, or even using it as a signal to trigger enforcement or review, would hinder protected political speech in unacceptable ways.”
“Meta is aware that the phrase is not linked exclusively to Hamas and, furthermore, none of the three pieces of content in this case bundle suggest support for Hamas or glorifies the organization,” Meta said in a statement.
The Anti-Defamation League condemned the decision: “‘From the river to the sea’ is an antisemitic charge denying the Jewish people’s right to self-determination. This rallying cry, enshrined in the charter of Hamas, has long been used by anti-Israel voices, including supporters of terrorist orgs like Hamas and PFLP, which seek Israel’s destruction through violent means.”
